Sharpening device



Dec. 27; 1938. w A B Y 2,141,850

SHARPENING DEVICE.

Original Filed Aug. 17, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

D66. 27, 1938. w A, RRY

SHARPENING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 17, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.9

INVENTOR;

Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 17, 1931, Serial No. 557,628 Renewed Oct. 27, 1937 17 Claims.

This invention relates more particularly to new and improved means for sharpening blades especially razor blades.

It is an object of this invention to sharpen and re-sharpen blades rapidly and with the utmost precision.

It is an object of this invention to utilize means to produce both longitudinal and rotary motions of the sharpening rollers while imparting to the blade holder also a longitudinal reciprocation.

It is an object of this invention to utilize means to produce longitudinal reciprocation or vibration of the sharpening rollers of small amplitude while the blade holder is controlled by means producing reciprocations longitudinally of comparatively large amplitude.

It is also an object of this invention to provide means to produce rapid vibration or reciprocation of the sharpening rollers while producing slow reciprocation of the blade holder.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a gear shift mechanism whereby the pressure between the blade edge portion and the sharpening rollers may be selectively increased or diminished.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means to render the device fool proof so that the handle may be rotated in either direction Without any damage resulting to the blade edge or sharpening rollers.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide means to reverse the position of the blade holder with reference to the sharpening rollers by shifting of the gear mechanism or by reversing the rotation of the crank.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide means to maintain the selected position of the gear mechanism.

It is still a further object of this invention to produce a simple compact organization which can be produced at a small cost for household or individual use; of course, for manufacturing purposes, many units may be used in series or banks operated from a single propelling means.

It is still a further object of this invention to produce a sectional casing or housing having bearings at its ends as well as intermediate said ends.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide means to produce selectively the honing effect or the stropping effect even though no strop or strap is used. In the honing operation the rollers rotate toward the blade edge, whereas in producing the stropping effect the rollers are propelled rotarily away from the blade edge.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a unit capable of producing a multiplicity of different movements of a blade-holding means and blade-sharpening element, or blade edge treating body, to thereby sharpen the blade edges expeditiously.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a unit comprising a shaft having a sharpening roller loosely mounted thereon, said roller having at one end means to produce rapid reciprocation of the roller as it is being rotated, in combination with a cylinder fixedly mounted on one end of the shaft, said unit having means thereon to prevent rotation of said roller on said shaft but permitting reciprocation of said roller with reference to said shaft and cylinder and a cam on said cylinder to produce slow reciprocation of a blade-holding means and blade, whereby a maximum of blade edge treatment may be accomplished in a minimum of time.

Fig. 1 is a plan of the interior of my sharpening device, showing a few of the parts in section.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device showing that device is made of sections which are suitably secured together.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the contained rollers as well as other features of the mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an edge elevation of the blade holder.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the blade holder containing a blade.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the blade holder bars or elements when they are disassembled.

Fig. 7 is a plan of the interior mechanism of a modified form of my sharpening device, showing some of the mechanism in section.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a one-piece shaft hollow and slotted throughout its major portion to receive the blade holder and blade.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of my blade sharpening device showing the operating crank in position for operation.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the interior mechanism of another modification of my sharpening device wherein is shown a one-piece shaft for receiving and supporting the blade holder and blade, some of the mechanism being in section.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the partition in the device showing the camming surfaces on one sur- 0 face of the partition.

Fig. 12:- is an elevation of one of the friction disks indicating how it may be splined on the supporting shaft. I

Fig. 13 is an elevation of one of the camming cylinders which reciprocates the blade holder and blade.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one section of a two part shaft indicated in Figs. 1 and 7.

Fig. 15 is an elevation of a modified form of friction disk.

Fig. 1 shows a gear set up different from that in views shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 10, but the same general result is accomplished.

Fig. 1 and Fig. '7 show a two-section shaft, whereas Fig. 10 shows a one-section shaft to operate the mechanism.

Fig. 1, Fig. 7 and Fig. 10 show similar gear mechanisms or same gear set-ups, but a diiferent friction clutch arrangement, due to the fact that Figs. 1 and 7 show a two-section shaft, while Fig. 10 shows a one-section shaft, but in each one of the arrangements the same mechanical principle is involved and the various set-ups or gear mechanisms serve to operate the same friction means or spring mechanism to provide selective pressure, and to produce the same control of the rollers. The one shaft system requires the idling of all handle parts on the shaft 26, whereas, with the two-section shaft set-up, all parts turn with the shaft up to the center or intermediate wall 3|.

The blade holder, supporting section of the shaft is not changed even if used with the several arrangements of gears.

Fig. 10 shows the preferred embodiment of the device for home use.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a five gear, stopping, set-up with the drive gear in mesh with counter gears 24-24 which mesh with roller gears 23-23;

The blade holder 2 containing the blade 36 is provided, at one end, with a finger grip The holder and contained blade are insertible into the aperture or opening 3 and into the slotted hollow housing 4, whereby the blade is tiltably supported between and adjacent to the sharpening rollers 8. The blade holder 2 is also provided with arms 5 extending laterally therefrom, said arms being in turn provided with cam engaging points or portions at the ends of said arms 5. The blade holder 2 is further provided with blade engaging and positioning means of any suitable character.

The sharpening device is housed and supported in a box or casing comprising sections secured together by any suitable fastening means. Shafts 29 are mounted in suitable bearings in walls 32, 33, 4|,and 42 of the casing, and also in bearings l2 in the partition 3|. The shafts 29 are supported against endwise movement by gears 23 which are fixedly mounted on the shafts, and said gears rotatably engage the walls 33 and 42 while the cam cylinders 6 are fixedly secured to the other end portions of shafts 29 and rotatably engage walls 32 and 4|.

The sharpening rollers 8 are slidably mounted for longitudinal movement on the shafts 29 whereby the rollers may be shifted longitudinally by the camming mechanism comprising the undulatory or wavy cam surfaces indicated at In on the ends of the rollers 8 and at H on the partition and support 3|. The pins 1, fixedly mounted on the cylinders 6, extend into and slidably engage the apertures 9 in the ends of the rollers 3 whereby said rollers are prevented from rotating on the shafts 29.

The cylinders 6 are provided with cams 38 which are engaged by the cam elements on the arms 5 of the blade holder 2. Each of said cams 38 define a plane at a suitable angle to the axis of its supporting shaft 29 whereby the blade holder is propelled to and fro longitudinally of the hollow housing 4.

The hollow housing 4 is supported on bearings in the partition 3| and wall 32; said hollow housing 4 is provided at one end with a clutch element l5 which is adapted to be engaged at H by the clutch element IS.

The shaft 26 is provided with a shank portion 34 forming also a crank 25 having the handle grip 28. Said shank portion is provided with an annular groove 21 and is fixedly secured-to the shaft 26. The disc 35 and gears 20 and 22 are likewise secured fixedly to the shaft 26. A cross pin 39 may be used in securing the disc 35 nonrotatably on its supporting shaft 26. The shaft 26 and all parts attached thereto are longitudinally slidable whereby the inner end of the shaft 26 may be movably supported in the end of the hollow housing 4. The clutch element I6 is slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 26. The clutch spring I9 surrounds the shaft 26 and engages clutch element It and disc 35 whereby the clutch elements I5 and I6 are forced into friction engagement.

The gears 20, 2|, 22, 23 and 24, in combination with the slidable shaft 26, form a reversing gear mechanism, whereby the abrasive rollers 8 may be rotated in either direction to produce either the honing or stopping function or effect. It is therefore necessary that the sharpening rollers 8 be made of suitable abrasive material so that the edges of the blade being honed will not dig into the rollers 8 and damage them or the blade edge or edges. The gears 24 are idler pinions which merely transmit motion from the gear 22 to the gears 23, and are suitably mounted on shafts 3| supported by the wall 33. When the gears 2 and 22 are shifted inwardly against the tension of the clutch spring l9, they are locked in shifted position by a latch or dog 40 which engages the groove 21 of the shank 34.

Upon rotation of the crank 25 it is evident that the gear mechanism will be operated to drive the rollers 8 clockwise for the stopping function or effect, as positioned for operation in Fig. 1.

Now if it is desired to rotate the rollers 8 counter-clockwise, it is merely necessary to shift gears 20 and 22 inwardly against the tension of the spring I9 and latch or lock the parts in shifted position by the latch or dog 40. While the rollers 8 are rotated they are shifted longitudinally by the cooperating cams, plus the force of gravity, in which case the crank 25 would be held in a lowermost position. Of course, springs could be inserted between the cylinders 6 and the rollers 8 to facilitate the force of gravity or even to make it possible to eliminate dependence upon the gravitational force to produce the rapid vibrational, longitudinal movement. While the rollers 8 are rotating and vibrating longitudinally, the blade holder and blade are also, comparatively slowly, shifted to and fro longitudinally by the camming means on arms 5 and cylinders 6. The multiplicity of movements produced facilitates and expedites the sharpening of the blade edges.

In view of the fact that the sharpening rollers 8 are of suitably hard abrasive material the device is substantially fool proof, since the crank 25 and handle 28 may be rotated in either direction without doing damage to the device or the blade edges being sharpened. 1

In the modifications shown in Figs. '7 and 10, the sharpening rollers 8' are provided with helical raised portions defined by helical channels. In this variety of sharpening rollers the sharpening contact with the razor edge is very much reduced so that pressure is concentrated on spots or portions of the blade edge being sharpened. It appears to be self-evident that concentrated pressure on small areas or spots would facilitate the sharpening of very hard blade edges. In these modifications the cooperating cam elements ill and l I are less abrupt and fewer in number than those shown at In and II of Fig. 1. This variation results in relatively slower reciprocations of the rollers 8' than the rollers 8 of Fig. 1.

In Fig. '7 the end l3 of one shaft section is provided with a clutch element l5 fixedly secured on said section and frictionally engages the clutch element l6 which is splined on the shaft 26. The disk 35' is fixidly secured on the shaft 26' by the pin 29'. The spring l9 urges the clutch elements together precisely in the same manner as indicated in Fig. 1. The hub 34 having the crank arm 25 and the gear 20' are both slidably and rotatably mounted on the shaft 26. The hub 34 is also provided with an annular groove or channel 21 whereby the hub 34' and gear 20' are maintained in the selected position shown in Fig. '7 by a latch bolt 40. When it is desired to shift gears to another selected position the bolt 4!! is disengaged from the channel 2'! and the spring forces the hub 34 and gear 20' into the new position whereby the direction of rotation of the rollers 8 are reversed and the pressure on the clutch elements l5 and I6 is slightly reduced. The surface portion ll on the end of the shaft section also slidably engages the clutch element [6. The gear 22' is idly mounted on the hub 34' and constantly engages the spur gears 23' which are fixedly mounted on the shafts 29 as indicated. The gear 24' is idly journalled at 30 in any suitable manner and is in constant engagement with one of the gears 23 as indicated and is selectively engageable by gear 20' whenever desired. Of course, the gear 2! is fixed on the shaft 29.

In Fig. the one piece shaft 26" shown in Fig. 8 is used. The disc I5" is fixed on the shaft 26" and the friction clutch element I6" is provided with a sleeve supporting the spring I9 in a selected position of compression as indicated, whereby the maximum friction between the elements I6", 20', and 35" are maintained to produce a heaw pressure between the blade edges and sharpening rollers 8'. The element I6" is slotted, as indicated in Fig. 15, to receive the ends of the pin 39", whereby the element i6" is non-rotatably, but slidably, mounted on the shaft 26".

In both Figs. 7 and 10 the gears 22' and 22" are loosely mounted on the sleeve 34 and are maintained in position, against lateral displacement, by the flange 45 on one side of said gear and the wall 38 on the other.

The shaft section 26, shown in Fig. 14, having the spline 46 which slidably engages clutch e1ement It or [6, is used in the organizations having the two-section shaft clearly disclosed in Figs. 1 and 7.

It is to be observed generally that the speed and amplitude of reciprocation of the sharpener rollers or cylinders are different from the speed and amplitude or reciprocation of the blade holder.

This feature is important since it insures relative reciprocatory movement between the blade edges and the edge treating bodies or cylinders. As illustrated the amplitude or reciprocation of the cylinders is small being less than one half of the radius of each cylinder.

The amplitude of reciprocation of the blade holder is, as illustrated, relatively large being more than twice that of the cylinders and less than the radius of the cylinders. Of course these relative values may differ a great deal, in fact, the cylinders may be made to reciprocate through a large amplitude by modifying the cams or other means which produce and control the speed and amplitude of such reciprocations, likewise the amplitude of reciprocations of the blade holder may be modified to make it relatively small and rapid movement by modifying the cams or other means which produce and control the speed and amplitude thereof.

The disclosure of my invention in specific embodiments presented is not intended to limit the scope of my invention except as is deemed to be necessary to avoid the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. A sharpening device for razor blades having a rotatable sharpening roller, blade-holding means located in said device to hold a blade edge in proper razor blade sharpening engagement with said roller, means including a shaft to support and rotate said roller, means to reciprocate said roller longitudinally on its shaft to produce reciprocations of small amplitude, additional means in said device to produce longitudinal reciprocations parallelrto the axis of said roller and of large amplitude of said blade holding means; as compared with the reciprocations of small amplitude of said roller means to selectively vary the pressure of the blade on said roller.

2. A sharpening device having a rotatable roller, blade-holding means in said device for holding a blade in edge treating engagement with said roller, a shaft slidably supporting said roller thereon for reciprocation on said shaft and in said device, means on the one end of said roller cooperating with means in said device to produce rapid longitudinal reciprocations of said roller, while said roller is being rotated, cam means of low pitch fixedly mounted on said shaft located in engagement with cooperating cam means on said blade-holding means to produce slow longitudinal movement of said blade-holding means while said roller is rotating and reciprocating, means to rotate said roller and cam means mounted on said shaft, whereby a maximum amount of blade edge treatment may be produced in a minimum of time.

3. A blade sharpening device having a rotatable blade edge treating roller slidably mounted for reciprocation on a shaft in said device, cam means of high pitch defining an undulatory end portion on one end of said roller cooperating with similar means supported in said device to produce rapid longitudinal reciprocations of small amplitude, while said roller is being rotated, means to rotate said roller, blade-holding means slidably mounted in said device for holding a blade with its edge in sharpening engagement with said roller, a cylinder fixedly mounted on said shaft, cam means of low pitch on said cylinder cooperating with camming means on said blade-holding means to produce slow longitudinal reciprocation of said blade-holding means, while said roller is being rotated and rapidly reciprocated, whereby a maximum amount of blade edge treatment may be produced in a minimum of time.

4. In a blade sharpening device, an article of manufacture including the substructure unit comprising a blade edge treating roller, a shaft, said roller being slidably mounted on the shaft for reciprocation thereon, cam means of high pitch defining an undulatory or wavy end portion on said roller, in combination with a second cylinder fixedly mounted on said shaft, said second cylinder having cam means of low pitch defining a plane at an angle, other than a right angle, to the axis of said shaft means projecting from one of said cylinders and slidably received in a socket to the other to prevent rotation of the roller on the shaft.

5. In a blade sharpening device, an article of manufacture including the substructure unit comprising a blade edge treating roller, a shaft, said roller being loosely mounted on the shaft for reciprocation thereon, cam means of high pitch defining an undulatory or wavy end portion on said roller, in combination with a cylinder fixedly mounted on said shaft, said cylinder having a pin located ecce-ntrically thereon and projecting longitudinally thereof, said roller having an opening at one end thereof, adjacent said cylinder and receiving said pin, whereby relative rotation of said roller and cylinder is prevented at all times, cam means of low pitch on said cylinder, said cam means defining a plane at an angle other than a right angle to the axis of said shaft.

6. A sharpening device having, spaced parallel, sharpening rollers loosely mounted on shafts for reciprocation thereon, means to prevent rotation of said rollers with reference to their supporting shafts, blade supporting means tiltably mounted between said rollers in combination with gear mechanism, means for shifting some of said gears comprising part of said mechanism, to produce both a speed change and directional change of said sharpening rollers in further combination with a spring controlled friction clutch co-acting with the shifted gears to increase or diminish the tension on said spring and, thereby, increase or decrease the pressure of the blade edges on said sharpening rollers, the axis of said shafts and the axis of said blade supporting means defining a single plane, and means to reciprocate said rollers as they are rotated.

7. A sharpening device in accordance with claim 6, in which there is co-acting means on said shafts and blade support to produce a reciprocation of said blade support at a different speed and amplitude than the reciprocations of said rollers whereby a maximum of blade edge treatment may result in a minimum of time.

8. A sharpening device in accordance with claim 6, in which there is camming means on said shafts, co-acting with the blade support, to produce slow reciprocation of large amplitude of said blade support as compared with the reciprocation of said rollers.

9. A sharpening device having a plurality of sharpening rollers mounted on shafts, gear mechanism in said device to drive said rollers, said mechanism comprising two gear trains which may be selectively brought into operation, whereby both the speed and direction of movement of said rollers may be changed, means for holding a blade in sharpening engagement with the rollers,

spring controlled friction clutch means for main-.

taining a suitable pressure of blade edges on said rollers, and means to maintain either of said gear trains in selected position for the desired speed and direction of movement of said rollers.

10. A sharpening device in accordance with claim 9 in which one of the gears of one gear train is idly mounted on a sleeve and is maintained in position on one side by a flange on one gear of the same gear train,said sleeve having a gear at one end and a crank at the other, said sleeve'with its gear and crank being slidably mounted for selective position of operation.

11. A sharpening device for razor blades having a rotatable sharpening roller, said roller having a diameter less than one half the length of the roller whereby the length of said roller is made longer than the razor blade edge to be sharpened, razor blade holding means located in said device to support and maintain a razor blade at an acute angle to the tangent of the roller at the line of contact of said roller with said blade, said acute angle defining a quantity less than twenty degrees and more than one tenth of a degree whereby the blade is supported in proper razor blade sharpening engagement with said roller, means including a shaft for supporting and rotating said roller, means located in said device to cause longitudinal reciprocation of said roller on said shaft while it is being rotated by said shaft, means to guide and reciprocate said blade holding means parallel to the axis of the sharpening roller, whereby both the roller and blade holder are reciprocated longitudinally and individually with reference to each other.

12. Asharpening device for razor blades having a rotatable sharpening roller, said roller having a diameter less in length than one half the length of said roller, said roller being longer than the razor blade edge to be sharpened, razor blade holding means located in said device to support a razor blade at an acute angle to the tangent of the roller at the line of contact of said roller with said blade, said acute angle defining a quantity less than twenty degrees and more than one tenth of a degree whereby the blade is supported in proper razor blade sharpening engagement with said roller, means including a shaft for supporting and rotating said roller, means in said device to rapidly reciprocate said roller longitudinally on said shaft while it is being rotated by said shaft, and to limit the reciprocations to small amplitude less than one half the radius of said roller, additional means in said device for slowly reciprocating said blade holding means longitudinally and parallel to the ax s of said sharpening roller while said roller is being reciprocated rapidly during its rotation, means to maintain a blade edge in proper razor blade sharpening engagement with said roller and said means for reciprocating the blade holding means being constructed and arranged tocontrol and limit the amplitude of reciprocations of said holder toa length different from that produced in the roller, whereby a blade edge may be rapidly and efiiciently sharpened.

13. A sharpening device having a rotatable razor blade sharpening roller, a shaft, said roller being longitudinally slidably mounted on said shaft, razor blade holding means located and mounted in said device for supporting a razor blade at an acute angle to the tangent of the roller at the line of contact of said roller with said blade, said acute angle defining a quantity less than twenty degrees and more than one tenth of a degree whereby the blade is supported in proper sharpening engagement with said roller, means to rotate said roller and shaft, means in said device to produce rapid longitudinal reciprocationsof small amplitude of said roller, the diameter of said roller being less in length than one half the length of the roller, the amplitude of the reciprocations of said roller being limited to a length less than one half the radius of said roller, additional means in said device to produce slow longitudinal reciprocations of large amplitude of said razor blade holding and supporting means, and to control and limit the amplitude of reciprocations of said blade holder to more than twice and less than five times the amplitude of reciprocations of said roller, said blade holder and roller being mounted parallel to each other and in cooperative razor blade edge sharpening relation.

14. A sharpening device having a movable abrasive body, said body comprising a rotating cylinder, a razor blade holding body for holding a razor blade at an acute angle to the tangent of the roller at the line of contact of said roller with said blade, said acute angle defining a quantity less than twenty degrees and more than one tenth of a degree whereby the blade is supported in sharpening engagement with said cylinder to produce a shaving edge on said razor blade, means to support said bodies in parallel relation to each other, means to rapidly longitudinally vibrate said cylinder through vibrations of small amplitude comprising a distance less than one half the radius of said cylinder, additional means to slowly simultaneously vibrate said blade holding body longitudinally and in a path parallel to said cylinder, and to control and limit the amplitude of vibrations of said blade holding body to a distance more than two times the amplitude of vibrations of said cylinder, whereby a maximumof edge sharpening treatment of a razor blade may be produced in a minimum of time.

15. A sharpening device having a movable razor blade edge treating body, said body comprising a rotary cylinder including a complete cylindrical sharpening surface covering a full circumference of 360, a blade holding body for holding a razor blade at an acute angle to the tangent of the roller at the line of contact of said roller with said blade, said acute angle defining a quantity less than twenty degrees and more than one tenth of a degree whereby the blade is supported in sharpening contact with said cylinder, means to support and reciprocate said bodies in parallel relation to each other, means to produce angular displacement of said cylinder, and to reciprocate said cylinder rapidly through longitudinal reciprocations of small amplitude, and to control and limit the amplitude of reciprocations of said cylinder to an extent less than one half the radius of said cylinder, additional means to slowly longitudinally reciprocate said razor blade holding body through a large amplitude, said reciprocating means for said blade holding body being constructed and arranged to control and limit the amplitude of reciprocations of said blade holding body to more than two times the amplitude of reciprocations of said cylinder and to a less distance than twice the diameter of said cylinder, whereby a maximum amount of razor blade treatment may result in a minimum of time.

16. A sharpening device for razor blades including a rotary cylinder having a complete abrading circumference of 360, a razor blade holding means in said device for holding a razor blade at an acute angle to the tangent of the roller at the line of contact of said roller with said blade, said acute angle defining a quantity less than twenty degrees and more than one tenth of a degree whereby the blade is supported in edge treating engagement with said cylinder to produce a razor blade shaving edge, means to support said cylinder and blade holding means in parallel operative relation, means to rotate and rapidly longitudinally reciprocate said cylinder, means to slowly longitudinally reciprocate said blade holding means, said means to reciprocate said cylinder being constructed and arranged to control and limit the amplitude of reciprocations of said cylinder to less than one half its radius, to reciprocate said blade holding means being constructed and arranged to control and limit the amplitude of reciprocations of said blade holding means to more than twice the amplitude of reciprocations of said cylinder and to less than twice the diameter of said cylinder substantially as described.

17. In a razor blade sharpening device having two rotary blade edge treating cylinders mounted for continuous rotation, said cylinders having continuous edge treating surface portions extending, at least, helically throughout the full length of each cylinder, in combination with rotatable shafts and gear mechanism including a hand operating crank to rotate said shafts, said gear mechanism and said cylinders; a blade holder mounted in said device between said cylinders for parallel longitudinal reciprocation with reference to said cylinders, means to reciprocate said blade holder in cooperation with a spring actuated clutch means, said last named means including structural features whereby the operator may selectively vary the pressure of the blade edges on said cylinders, said means tomaintain a blade in said holder at an acute angle to the tangents of the rollers at the lines of contact of said rollers with said blade, said acute angle defining a quantity less than twenty degrees and more than one tenth of a degree whereby the blade may be supported in proper razor blade sharpening engagement with said rollers, said cylinders being mounted on said shafts for reciprocation thereon, means to reciprocate said cylinders, said last named means including cams to control the amplitude and speed of reciprocation of the cylinders with reference to the speed and amplitude of reciprocations of I 

